South Island Dance Network

Dance and Beyond professional development project – what is it about?

In 2011 DANZ will be running a professional development programme Dance and Beyond - in Nelson/Blenheim, Christchurch and Dunedin.

This project has arisen from talking to local people about development.

The programme is free but it requires commitment to full participation in order for it to be effective for the participants. So it is important that the dance community communicates it willingness to get involved or identifies barriers to involvement etc. You also need to be a current member of DANZ.

The tutor/facilitator is Jamie Bull, who has extensive experience in all aspects of directing a dance company, producing, the role of an agent and mentoring/advising. Jamie will be travelling to the regions for the forum/mentoring sessions as she lives on the Kapiti Coast.

The aim of the programme is to develop individual and collective strength through looking at -  Confidence/skill building in identified areas, visibility of dance/arts, connection, vision and planning.

The programme content will be established after group discussion, but may cover such areas as:

Clarification of vision/plans
Career pathways
Company development
Choreographic development
Mentoring skill development
Producing/promotion
Entrepreneurship
Peer support and local dance infrastructure development

A specific topic for discussion at each session

Between sessions there will be one to one communication available with Jamie, plus tasks for participants, relating to individual skill/career development.

Who? - The programme is for dance and allied performing arts people – so it could be for dancers, choreographers, teacher/tutors, producers and event organisers, dance/arts admin, physical theatre/theatre.

This project is kindly supported by Creative New Zealand through a special one-off grant for dance sector capacity building.

Ms Jamie Bull  - profile

Producer, Director, Manager, Mentor, Consultant - Performing Arts.

Background and experience

Since 1976, ( as Founding Director of Impulse Dance Theatre) Jamie has been consistently and successfully involved with a significant range of local and touring projects both nationally and internationally in a wide range of roles. From Performer, Choreographer, Director, Producer, Tour Manager, Publicist, to her current primary role as Artist Manager and Mentor.

She has had over 30 years’ experience of creating, and directing and planning and administering simple and complex projects with all the associated challenges from managing the creative aspect- from idea to product - and all the aspects of bringing it to fruition, including budget (covers grants and sponsors) contracts, transport, venues, itinerary juggling, accommodation, marketing and promotion, the “ mop up” and most critically personnel.

Jamie says – “In that time I have faced an incredible range of expected and unexpected circumstances, made my fair share of mistakes and now believe I have developed a thorough knowledge of most aspects of the industry.

I have long been an advocate for access to artistic practice and creativity for all members of our community and have contributed in this field for all of my professional life”.

Experience and qualifications

Jamie has a Diploma of Teaching; have completed the Training for Trainers programmes through Wellington College of Education. During the last three years she has undertaken significant training with Lawrence Green of Venture Education, including the three year Creative New Zealand’s Senior Arts Leadership Programme.

She has studied the psychology of groups, and worked for many years as a movement and group specialist/therapist in residential addiction centres: Queen Mary Hospital, Hamner Springs and Springhill Centre, Napier.

Jamie has mentoring formally and informally as part of her current business for the last 10 years. Clients have included dancers, actors, directors, producers, a visual artist and writers.